Press



1942- c. A. WITTER 2,298,077

PRESS Filed April 6, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTdR:

Maw/21A A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 6, 1942. c wlTTER 2,298,077

PRESS Filed April 6, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 6, 1942. c. A. WlTTER PRESS Filed April 6, 1940 If 4 1 I r 271747 4274 INV ENTOR:

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ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 6, 1942.

C. A. WITTER PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1940 INVENTOR:

flow ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 6, 1942. c. A. WlTTER 2,298,077

PRESS Filed April 6, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ww f; 4%

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Oct. 6, 1942. Q wlTTER 2,298,077

PRESS Filed April 6, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEJYTOR WVMK ATTORNEIG C. A. WITTER Oct. 6, 1942.

PRESS Filed April 6, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I S INVENTOR M z. WW

A TTORNE Yj Patented Oct. 6,1942

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESS Claude A. Witter, Philadelphia, Pa. Application April 6, 1940, Serial No. 328,231

6 Claims.

This invention relates to presses, and its primary object is to provide a simple. relatively inexpensive and effective press of high capacity per unit of time, and in which the forces are applied most efiectively and accuracy obtained, even though several pressing operations be simultaneously carried on.

I How the foregoing, together with such other objects and advantages as hereinafter appear or are incident to my invention, are realized is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherem V Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of a press embodying my invention, the section being taken substantially on the line |--i of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a plan section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the die turret of Figure 1 taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 3a is a fragmentary, sectional view illustrating one of the die holders of the die turret and its associated centering punch in centering position;

Figure 3b is a fragmentary, sectional'view illustrating one of the die holders and its associated piercing punch in piercing position;

Figure 3c is a fragmentary, sectional view illustrating one of the die holders and its associated ejector rod in ejecting position;

Figure 4 is a modification illustrating a turret arrangement for the centering punch of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating a modified form of die;

Figure 6 is a modification illustrating a multiple turret arrangement;

Figure 7 is a modification illustrating a multiple press;

Figure 8 is a control diagram;

Figure 9 is a more or less diagrammatic elevational view illustrating a modified arrangement oi. the punch and die turrets and control mechanism therefor;

Figure 10 illustrates a vertical form of press constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 11 illustrates another modified arrangement of the turrets;

Figure 12 is a modification illustrating another form of multiple press; and

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line lit-i3 of Figure 12.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3,

5 punches D; a rotatable die turret E carrying a plurality of radially disposed die holders F; hydraulic mechanism G for reciprocating the centering punch 13; hydraulic mechanism H for reciprocating the punch turret C; drive means I 10 for rotating the punch turret C; and drive means J for rotating the die turret E.

The die turret E comprises a fixed cylindrical support or platen 8 secured between the upright slabs A and tying them together, on which a 5 ring-like carrier 9, preferably of sectional construction, for the die holders F is rotatably mounted. In this instance four radially disposed die holders are secured to the carrier 9, as by means of bolts III, at spaced intervals annularly thereof. Each die holder F carries a radially replaceable die composed of a removable sleeve II and a movable bottom plug I2 made of suitable die steel.

The carrier is rotated in step-by-step move- 'ment by the drive means J to successively bring the die holders into aligned registry with the centering punch B. The drive means J comprises a driving pinion l3 secured on the shaft of the motor i4 and meshing with the gear i5 located peripherally of the carrier 9, and a looking device comprising a hydraulic cylinder [6 and piston 11 having a locking pin l8 adapted to enter the holes [9 in the carrier when the piston is moved into locking position. As shown in Figure 3, fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder by means of the pipe 20 and fluid is exhausted through the pipe 2| so that the locking pin it! is pressure held in the registering hole 19 to lock the turret against rotation.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the reference letter K indicates the loading station, L the centering station, M the piercing station, and N the discharging station, and in the case of forging blanks out of ferrous stock for the production of shell bodies, the slugs are fed by any suitable form of conveyor to the loading station K and there inserted into the dies one after the other as they are brought into loading position by the step-by-step movement of the turret.

0 After a slug has been inserted as-shown at K in Figure 3, the turret locking device is actuated to remove the locking pin i8 from its hole I9 by admitting fluid under pressure through the pipe 2| and exhausting fluid through the pipe 20, and

the turret press comprises in general supporting then the turret is rotated in step movement through 90 degrees bythe drive means 3 to bring the slug to the centering station L for the centering operation, whereupon the locking device is again actuated to locking position. The centering punch is then moved down by fluid under ment with the die to produce accurate centering of the slug. The centering punch is then withdrawn or moved up by admitting pressure fluid to the bottom of the piston by means of pipe 24 and exhausting it through pipe 22 and the turret is again rotated through 90 degrees as above described, thus bringing the centered slug around to the piercing station and also moving a new slug from the loading station to the centering station.

With the centered slug in this position the punch turret C is moved longitudinally to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, to cause the aligned piercing punch D topierce the slug into the form shown at K in Figures 3 and 3b. It will be seen from Figure 3b that the shank of the punch D enters well into the die sleeve II to maintain perfect alignment of the punch and die. This movement is imparted to the turret C by means of the hydraulic mechanism H comprising a cylinder 25, a piston 26 and pipes 21 and 23 for admitting fluid under pressure to the piston, the fluid being admitted through the pipe 21 to move the piston to the left. The piston 26 is connected to a yoked sliding member 29 having side plates 30 and 3| in which a turret pin 32 is mounted. A ring-like carrier 33 101' the piercing punches D is rotatably mounted on the pin 32 between the side plates 36 and 3|. The plates 30 and Ii are mounted in horizontal guideways 34 and it will thus be seen that as the piston is moved back and forth the turret assembly just described is reciprocated back and forth. After the slug has been pierced the punch is withdrawn by admitting pressure fluid through the pipe 28 so as to move the p ston and connected turret to the right. An adjustable stop 26a is provided on the rod 26b of the piston 26 whereby the depth of pierce may be regulated.

The turret E is then rotated through 90 degrees to move the pierced slug from the piercing station M to the discharging station N where the pierced slug or blank K is ejected by means of an ejecting device (see Figs. 3 and 3c) comprising a cylinder 35, a piston 36, an ejector rod 31 connected to the piston, and pipes 38 and 39 for admitting fluid under pressure to the piston. In order to eject the completed blank, fluid is admitted to the top of the piston by means of the pipe 38. This moves the ejector rod 31 downwardly as shown in Figure 30 thus ejecting or discharging the completed blank out of the die holder.

The supply of fluid under pressure to the operating cylinders of the centering punch, piercing turret, and ejector device may be controlled by any well known single control valve such as indicated at V in Figure 8, so that the centering, piercing and discharging operations all take place at the same time. A slug is also inserted into the die at the loading station when the above operations are taking place, and as the die holders successively arrive at the stations the operations are repeated so that for each new slug which is inserted at the loading station a completed blank is ejected at the discharging station.

Reverting now to the piercing punch turret C it is pointed out that this turret is rotated by means of a motor driven pinion 40 and gear 4| in step-by-step movement in synchronism with the step-by-step rotation of the turret E so that one punch after the other is brought into aligned piercing relation with one die holder after the other to perform its piercing operation. A hydraulic locking device 42 similar to thelocking device for the turret E above described is employed to hold the turret C in its piercing positions.

Control means of any well known construction and as indicated at Y in Figure 8 is employed for the turret rotating means I and J so as to rotate them in like step-by-step movement and with proper time between the step movements to permit of the loading, punching and ejecting operations at the stations. A suitable control valve as indicated at Z in Figure 8, common to the locking devices of both turrets E and C is also employed to operate these looks with each step movement of the turret.

Referring to Figure 9 it will be seen that I may rotate the punch turret through steps 01' difierent amplitude from those of the die turret as would be the case, for example, if it were desired to skip certain punches or to hold a punch in an operative position to operate on the slugs of two or more successive dies. This also enables me to employ more punches D in the punch turret C than there are dies in .the die turret E. In this figure I have shown four dies F in the die turrets E and eight punches 'D' in the punch turret C.

In this form, instead of employing a single control means Y and a single control valve Z as described in connection with Figure 8, I employ a control means Y for the turret rotating means I of the punch turret C' and a separate control means Y" for the turret rotating means J of the die turret E so that separate control of the turrets is afforded. Also two control valves Z and Z' are employed for the locking devices of the punch and die turrets instead of the common control valve Z of Figure 8.

The slugs are fed to the machine in extremely hot condition and therefore the piercing punch becomes highly heated during the piercing opera- \tion and unless provision is made to the contrary likihe punches would soon wear out thus causing igh maintenance costs. In order to overcome this difficulty I have provided the punch turret C above referred to by means of which a given number of blanks are produced with each punch performing only one quarter of the piercing operations and with a time element between its successive operations which affords a cooling effeet on the punch. In addition to the cooling effect due to the time interval between the successive operations of the punches I also provide for liquid cooling of the punches by means of a tank 43 containing oil and water into which the .punches dip prior to reaching their punching positions.

In Figure 4 I have shown a modification in which a plurality of centering punches B are mounted on a turret 44 which may be rotated in step-by-step movement in a manner similar to the other turrets above described. This centering punch turret may be employed in place of the centering punch 13 shown in Figure 1. In order to reciprocate the turret I up and down I propose to employ mechanism similar to the mechanism H' for reciprocating the turret C. This turret 44 may be mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of the turret E or at right angles thereto as desired, it being noted that in Figure 4 I have shown the turret E positioned with its axis at right angles to the axis of the turret 4. By employing such a centering punch turret I am enabled to speed up production and also obtain cooling advantages.

In the drawings I have shown the turrets C and E and the hydraulic device H in a horizontal line, but it is to be understood that I also contemplate mounting them vertically one above the other to provide a vertical press as illustrated in Figure 10 in which the punch turret C" and hydraulic device H are located above the die turret E. In such case the centering punch B may be located off to one side.

I also contemplate mounting the die turret E to rotate on a vertical axis, with the punch turret C remaining on a horizontal axis as shown in Figure 11. The centering punch 13 may be located to one side of the die turret E, as illustrated.

In Figure 5, a modification is illustrated in which the die holder F" and die sleeve II are shorter than those shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 6 I have shown a modification in which three sets of radially disposed die holders F are employed in the turret E whereby greater production may be obtained, it being understood that similar multiple centering and piercing punches would be employed in this arrangement.

In Figure 7 I have shown a double turret press, it being noted that a single press such as shown in Figure 2 may be converted into a double press by adding the additional turrets and associated mechanisms and only one supporting slab A. In this figure the various mechanisms have been indicated with the same reference characters as used in Figure 2.

The operation of each unit of this double press is the same as above described for the single press except that they are timed so that when one unit is moving in its piercing stroke the other is being retracted from its piercing stroke. However if desired these units may be timed to operate together in their piercing and retracting strokes.

While I have shown a double press in Figure 7 it is to be understood that I also contemplate employing a multiple press in which three or more units are arranged side by side with a common slab between adjacent units. In such an ar; rangement alternate presses may be timed to operate in opposite strokes as described above.

Such a multiple press employing five units is illustrated in Figure 12, it being noted that the punches of units U U and U are in their retracted positions, while the punches of units U and U are in their piercing positions so that thrusts are evenly distributed in the mechanism. This may be accomplished by control mechanism such as the valve V. This valve is shown in its position of admitting fluid under pressure from the pressure pipe 50 to the left-hand end of the pistons 26 of the units U U and U by means of the pipes 5|, 52 and 53 and to the right-hand end of the pistons 26 of the units U and U by means of pipes 5i and 54. Fluid is exhausted from the opposite ends of the pistons by means of the pipes 55, 56, 51, 58 and 59. Upon rotating the valve V through 90 degrees the pistons will be moved in opposite directions.

In order to impart step-by-step rotary movement to alternate turrets simultaneously to effect radial alignment of the dies with the punch rams successively and to impart similar step-by-step movement to the remainder oi the turrets. the turrets of units U U and U are driven by a motor Ila and suitable gearing 13a, lib and lid, while the tutrets of units U and U are driven by a separate motor Nb and suitable gearing 30, I311 and lib.

Referring now to the turret E of Figure 1, for purposes of illustration, it will be seen that the thrust of the punch B is truly radial with respect to the circular platen 8 and that this is also true with respect to anyone 01' the punches D of the V turret C. Thus, irrespective of whether thereisa single punching operation or multiple punching operations, simultaneously or successively, the thrust is always r: dial. In consequence the forces are effectively applied and in a manner such that the apparatus withstands them, or rather is capabl of withstanding them, without appreciable distortion, warping or twisting. This together with the fact that the punches are guided secures great accuracy and work may be produced within close tolerances.

In the drawings I have illustrated the formation of blanks for shell iorgings on which further operations are required to produce the final forging, but it is to be understood that in some sizes I may produce the finished forging or shell body in the press, i. e., the forging will require only machining for outside diameter and contour and trimming, the bore or cavity being finished to final requirements as to dimension and contour. In such case, I prefer to center and partially pierce in the first punching operation and give the final pierce and secure the needed length in the second punching operation. It is also to be understood that the press is suitable for producing other pressed articles, such for example as-non-ierrous cartridge cases, pressed lead articles, electrodes produced from powdered carbon, and socalled plastics also produced from powdered material. In the case of cartridge cases, a suitable slug is first center punched as described and then pierced and ertruded, whereby length is gained.

After these operations it is usually necessary to anneal, and after ejection and annealing, the case is further operated upon to secure the needed length, thinness of wall, etc. In the case of carbon electrodes and plastics where the material is charged in the form of powder, it is to be understood that the various stations occupy a position, say for example midway of the positions 11- lustrated, so that the charge will not run out. Moreover, in the case of plastics the dies are heated, as for example, electrically, and there is sufficient interval of rest between step by step movements to allow the punch to form the desired article and to allow the material to set or cure, after which the article produced is ejected.

It is likewise to be understood that the punches proper are readily replaceable and adjustable, as for instance by the insertion of suitable washers. Likewise the stroke of the rams is adjustable. The parts are readily accessible for these and other purposes. While I prefer to use hydraulically operated rams, it is to be understood that crank operated punches may be substituted. Strippers may be used if needed.

I claim:

1. A press comprising a frame having two side slabs, a fixed tubular platen, and means for fixedly securing said platen betweensaid side slabs to tie them together in spaced relation, a ring-like die carrier rotatably mounted on said platen, a'plurality of dies radially mounted on.

said carrier and disposed at spaced intervals annularly thereof, means for imparting step-by-step rotarymovement to said carrier, and a power the turret, a rotatable punch turret supported by said frame adjacent the periphery of said die turret and in spaced relation to said punch ram circumferentially of said die turret, said punch turret having a plurality of radially mounted punches disposed at spaced intervals annularly thereof, means for imparting step-by-step rotary movement to said die turret to effect radial alignment of the dies with the punch ram, successively, means for imparting step-by-step ro tary movement to said punch turret, said stepby-step movement imparting means for the die and punch turret being synchronized to efiect radial alignment of successive dies with successive punches, and ram means for reciprocating said punch turret back and forth.

3. A press comprising a frame having a fixed tubular platen, a ring-like carrier rotatably mounted on said platen, a plurality of slug carrying dies radially mounted on said carrier and disposed at spaced intervals annularly thereof, means for imparting step-by-step rotary movement to said carrier, a power punch ram carried by the frame and disposed so as to move in and out radially of the axis of rotation of said carrier to punch the slugs carried by said dies, and an ejecting device mounted within said tubular platen radially thereof, said step-by-step rotary movement eflecting radial alignment of the dies, with the punch ram and ejecting device,

1 successively.

4. A press comprising a frame having a fixed tubular platen, a ring-like carrier rotatably mounted on said platen, a plurality of slug carrying dies radially mounted on said carrier and disposed at spaced intervals annularly thereof, means for imparting step-by-step rotary movement to said carrier, a power punch ram carried by the frame and disposed so as to move in and out radially of the axis of rotation of said carrier to punch the slugs carried by said dies, and an ejecting device mounted within said tubular platen radially thereof, said step-by-step rotary movement eflecting radial alignment of the dies, with the punch ram and ejecting device, successively, together with means mounted within said tubular platen for releasably locking said ringlike carrier in each position of its step-by-step rotation.

5. A multiple press comprising a frame; an odd number of like juxtaposed press units each comprising a rotatable die turret supported by said frame and having a plurality of radially mounted dies disposed at spacedintervals annularly thereof, reciprocating punch means mounted on said frame adjacent the periphery of said turret in position to reciprocate back and forth radially of the axis of rotation of the turret, a power ram for effecting such reciprocation of said punch ram, and means for imparting step-by-step rotary movement to said turret to eflect radial alignment of the dies, with the punch rams, successively; said die turrets of the several units being disposed in axial alignment; and control means for the power rams of said units for efiecting movement of the rams of alternate units in forward stroke while the remainder of the rams move in backward stroke and vice versa.

6. A multiple press comprising a frame; an odd number of like juxtaposed press units each comprising a rotatable die turret supported by said frame and having a plurality of radially mounted dies disposed at spaced intervals annularly thereof, reciprocating punch means mounted on said frame adjacent the periphery of said turret in position to reciprocate back and forth radially of the axis of rotation of the turret, a power ram for effecting said reciprocation of said punch ram; said die turrets of the several units being disposed in axial alignment; means common to alternate turrets for imparting step-by-step ro tary movement thereto, simultaneously, to effect radial alignment of the dies, with the punch rams, successively; means common to the remainder of said turrets for imparting similar step-by-step rotary movement thereto; and control means for said power rams for effecting movement of the rams of alternate units in forward stroke while the remainder of said rams move in backward stroke and vice versa.

CLAUDE A. WITIER. 

